Ason harper



July 1 1924.l 1,499,378

F. LAMPLOUGH ET AL.

RETORT OR STILL Filed Dec. 13, 1922 Patented July 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES tisane PATENT OFFICE.

AFREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, OF FELTl-LM, ENGLAND. ANB NEVILLE CHARLES THOM- ASON HARPER, F DURBAN, NATAL, SCUTH AFRICA.

RETORT OR STILL.

Application filed December 13, 1922.

T0 all l1li/71.077?, t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Fnnnnnioii LAM- rLoUG-r and NnviLLn CHARLES THoMAsoN HARPER, both subjects of the King of England, residing, respectively, in Feltham, Middlesex, England, and Durban, Natal, South Africa, have invented certain new a`nd useful Improvements in Retorts or Stills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to retorts or stills and more particularly to a retort or still for use in the destructive distillation of shale or the like.

According to this invention there is provided a retort or still in which the distillation chamber is surrounded by two concentric vjackets to the outer one of which the hot gases from the furnace are admitted, and to the inner'one the fluid, for example the gases from the first acket, for heating the still whereby the heat is applied evenly to the wall of the distillation chamber.

Further, according to this invention, th re is provided a retort or still in which two conduits are so arranged as to envelop the distillation chamber, one of the conduits communicating at one end with the furnace and at the other end with the second conduit whose free end con'nnunicates with the distillation chamber so that the flue gases are caused to pass in series through the said conduits to the distillation chamber.

Again, according to this invention, the retort or still as set forth in the preceding paragraph has the said conduits arranged in close proximity to one another throughout their length thereby permitting the transference of heat from one to the other.

The retort or still as set forth in any of the preceding paragraphs is provided with two valves, one of which is operable to conv trol the discharge of the distilled material from the distillation chamber into a discharge hopper, and the other is operable after the first has been closed to control the discharge of the said material from the hop er.

Tie said valves preferably constitute a double valve of the mushroom type, one ele- Serial No. 606,584.

ment of which seals the discharge end of the distillation chamber, and the other element seals the feed end of the discharge hopper, and that element which seals the end of the distillation chamber is operable to close the said end before the second element closes the feed end of the hopper. The valves are carried upon a shaft and are operable to cause the element which seals the discharge end of the distillation chamber to first seal the said chamber and then proceed upon the further movement'I of the said shaft into the said chamber until the second element seals the feed end of the discharge hopper. The upper element of the said valve which forms the base of the distillation chamber supports the material which is being subjected to destructive distillation in the distill ation chamber.

. The invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows a front elevation partly in section of the retort comprising the subj ect-matter of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates in elevation the mechanism adopted for raising the valves which control the distillation chamber and the discharge hopper, and

Figure is a sectional view on the chain line of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings, l illustrates the distillation chamber which is shown surrounded by two concentric jackets 2 and 3. The jacket 3 communicates at its lower end with a furnace, not illustrated, the flue gases from which are mixed with a current of superheatcd steam which is passed over the fire in the furnace in varying quantities but at all times considerably in excess of the flue gases and the resulting hot gases are drawn through the pipe 4 by means of a suction fan into the jacket 3 which itself communicates at the end remote from the pipe a with the jacket 2. In the event of a sudden rise of temperature in the distillation chamber the still is flooded with an excess of steam and the temperature in consequence reduced and in this way the temperature of the distillation- Chamber is at all times maintained under perfect controll The path of the hot gases from the furnace due to the construction of the still is as follows The hot gases from the furnace enter the jacket 3 through the pipe #l whereafter they pass through the jacket 2, perforations 36 in the base of the distillation chamber, through the distillation chamber 1 and thereafter through the pipe 5 which is connected to a suitable device for collecting the products of distillation. Due to the presence of an outer jacket 3 surroundingthe inner jacket 2 of the distillation chamber ,the hot gases Which pass through the pipe 4 into the jacket 3 are distributed evenly throughout the jacket 3 and thereafter into the jacket 2.and so prevent any localization lof heat at any particular point on the Wall of the distillation chamber 1.

`The base 35 of the distillation chamber is of conical formation and is provided With perforations 36 therein which permit the hot gases to be passed from the jacket 2 into the distillation chamber 1. Tmmediately below the distillation chanilier there is provided a hopper 6, the feed end of which is closed by a conical valve 7 which is formed in. one piece With the perforated base of the distillation chamber. The said conical valve 7 and the perforated base 35 of the distillation chamber are carried upon a shaft 3, the lov'er end of which is operatively connected to a rack 9, The rack 9 engages with a pinion 19 which is mounted on the shaft 37 which carries a second pinion 11 which engages with a worm mounted on a shaft which is operable by hand.

The valve 7 and the perforated base of the distillation chamber 1 are so constructed that Whenthe rack 9 is moved to its furthest extent in one direction it fully opens the valve 7 and at the same time lowers the base of the distillation chamber so as to allow the contents of the said chamber to be discharged into the hopper 6. When, however, the said rack is operated in order to close the loiver end of the distillation chamber and also close the valve 7 of the hopper, the base of the distillatioi chamber is so vmounted on the shaft 3 that it first closes the said chamber and thereafter upon the further operation of the rack 9 the valve 7 is moved into engagement vwith its seating thereby ensuring that the distillation chamb er is closed before the valve 7 closes the feed end of the hopper G. The base of the distillation chamber is provided With a cutting or shearing edge so that When the base is moved into proximity with the lower edge of the distillation chamber it shears off" any material which may have accumulated around the said lower edge and thereafter forms a seal for the bottom of the distillation chamber. The hopper 6 is provided at its discharge end with a valve 12 which is similar in all respects to the valve 7 which seals the feed end of the said hopper. The valve 12 is carried upon the hollowv shaft 13, the lower end of which is provided with a rack 14; which engages With a pinion 15 mounted on a shaft 16. The shaft 1G carriesa second pinion 17 which `gears With the Worm Wheel 13 mounted upon the shaft 19, said shaft 19 being' operable by the handle 20 mounted on the Wheel 21. Thus vvhen the hopper G has been filled with the distilled material. which has been discharged from the distillation chamber 1 and the valve 7 of the hopper 6 has been operated so as to seal the feed end of the hopper, the Wheel 21 is turned so as to loiver the shaft 13 and thereby opensV the valve 12 mounted at the discharge end of the hopper 6 and alloivs the contents thereof to fall on to the 'chute 22 and be. carried away in' any convenient manner.

Then the distilled material has been removed from the distillation chamber 1 in the manner hereinbefore set forth, the chamber is refilled with fresh material from the hopper 23 mounted at the top ofthe distillation chan'iber. The said hopper 23 is provided with two valves which always maintain the distillation chamber in a sealed condition. The operation of these valves is as follows Shale or like material is lled into the trough 241i which is provided with a valve 25 mounted upon a shaft 26, and is moved by means of the lever 27 fulcrumed on the pivot 2S and balanced by means of the weight 29. When the trough 24; has been filled with the material `which is to be distilled, the lever 27 is operated so as to open the valve 25 and the contents of the trough 24 are then emptied into the hopper 23 whereupon the lever 27 is again operated and the valve 25 is closed. Situated at the bottom of the hopper .i3 is a secondV valve 30 Which is carried upon a shaft 31 which engages with a lever 32 fulcrumed on the pivot 33 and balanced by means of the Weight 34.. Thus when the hopper 23 has been filled with the material which is to be distilled and the valve 25 has been closed, the lever 32 is operated so as to unseat the valve 30 and alloiv the n'iaterial in the hopper 23 to pass into the distillation `cha-mber 1; thereafter the lever 32 is again operated to close the valve 30. The levers 27 and 32 are mounted on opposite sides of the still so as to prevent an operator from accidentally openingr both the valves 25 and 30 at the same time.

Therefore it will be seen that according to this invention there is provided aretort or still which is simple in construction and easy to operate, and Which possesses the advantages of ensuring an even distillation of the material in the distillation chamber and a uniform heating of the material to be distilled. At the same time there is provided a system of valves which control the feed and discharge ends of the distillation chamber, the said valves facilitating the manipulation of the still and rendering the same immune from accidental mistakes on the part of the operator.

le claim l. In distillation apparatus of t-he type described, the combination with a retort having an apertured bottom and having an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of means to admit material to be distilled to said retort, a casing comprising at least two jacket-Spaces one within the other surrounding said retort. the inner of which jacket-spaces communicates at the bottom with the retort below said apertured bottom and at the top with a surrounding jacket-space and the outer of which jacket-spaces is provided with an inlet near the bottom to admit heating fluid thereto whereby the heating fluid is compelled to flow upwardly7 in the outer jacket and downwardly in the inner jacket and thereafter pass through the material in the retort in an upward direction,

2. In distillation apparatus of the type described` the combination with a retort having an apertured bottom and having` an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of charging means arranged to admit material to be distilled to said retort and to provide a closure to the atmosphere during charging, a casing comprising at least two jacket-spaces one withn in the other surrounding said retort, the inner of which` jacketspaces communicates at the bottom with the retort below said apertured bottom and at the top with a surrounding jacket-space and the outer of which jacket-spaces is provided with an inlet near the bottom to admit heating fluid thereto, and means to permit discharge of material from said retort, said last mentioned means providing a closure to the atmosphere during the discharging operation.

3. In distillation apparatus of the type described, the combination with a cylindrical retort having a perforated bottom and having an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of charging means arranged to admit material to be distilled to said retort and to provide a closure to the atmosphere during charging, a cylindrical casing comprising two concen tric jacket-spaces surrounding said retort, the inner of which jacketspaces communicates at the bottom with the retort below said perforated bottom and at the top with the surrounding jacket-space which is provided with an inlet near the bottom to admit heating fluid, there/@O5 and means t@ per mit discharge of material from said retort, said last mentioned means providing a closure to the atmosphere during the discharging operation.

4l. In distillation apparatus of the type described, the' combination with -a retort having a movable perforated bottom and having an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of charging means arranged to admit material to be distilled to said retort and to provide a cloisure to the atmosphere during charging` a casing comprising at least two jacket-spaces one within the other surrounding said retort, the inner of which ljacket-spacescommunicates at the bottom with the retort below said perforated bottom and at the top with a surrounding jacket-space and the outer of which jacket-spaces is provided with an inlet near the bottom to admit heating fluid thereto, a hopper-like chamber be low said retort and communicating with an outlet of the retort below said perforated bottom, a valve associated with said perforated bottom and movable therewith for controlling said outlet, a second valve arranged to control the delivery outlet of said hopper, and means for moving said valves independently of each other.

5. In distillation apparatus of the type described, the combination with a cylindrical retort having a substantially conical per forated movable Ibottom and having an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of charging means arranged to admit material to be distilled to said retort and to provide a closure to the atmosphere during charging, a cylindrical casing comprising concentric jacket-spaces surrounding'said retort the inner of which jacket-spaces communicates at the bottom with the retort below said perforated bottom and at the top with a surrounding jacket-space which is provided with an inlet near the bottom to admit heating fluid thereto, a hopper-like chamber below said retort and communicating with an outlet of the retort below said perforated bottom, a conical valve associated with said conical perforated bottom and movable therewith for controlling said outlet, a second conical valve arranged to control the delivery outlet of saidhopper, and means for moving said valves independentl7 of each other.

6. In distillation apparatus of the type described, the combination with a retort having a. substantially conical perforated movable bottom and having an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of a hopper-like chamber above said retort and communicating with an inlet thereof, a feed-hopper communicating with an inlet of said hopper-like chamber, a valve for controlling the inlet between the retort and Said hopper-like Chamber, .a sa

ond valve for controlling the inlet between said feed-hopper and said hopper-like chamber, means to operate said valves independently of each other, a casing comprising concentric jacket-spaces surrounding said retort, the inner of which jacket-spaces communicates at the bot-tom with the retort below said perforated bottom and at the top with a surrounding jacket-space which is provided with an inlet near the bottom to Vadmit heating fluid thereto, a hopper-like chamber below said ret-ort, and communicating with an outlet of the retort below said perforated bottom, a conical valve associated with said conical perforated bottom and movable therewith for controlling said outlet, a second conical valve arranged to control the delivery outlet of said hopper, and means for moving said valves independently of each other.

7. In distillation apparatus of the type described, the combination with a retort having a substantially conical perforated movable bottom and having an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of a hopper-like chamber above said retort and communicating with an inlet thereof, a feed-hopper communieating with an inlet of said hopper-like chamber, a valve for controlling the inlet between the retort and said hopper-like chamber, a second valve for controlling the inlet between said feed-hopper and said hopper-like chamber, means to operate said valves independently of each other, a easing comprising concentric jacket-spaces surrounding said retort, the inner of which jacket-spaces communicates at the bottom with the retort below said perforated bottom and at the top with a surrounding jacket-space which is provided with an inlet near the bottom to admit heating :fluid thereto, a hopper-like chamber below said retort and communicating with an outlet of the retort below said perforated bottom, a conical valve associated withsaid conical perforated bottom and movable therewith for controlling said outlet, a second conical valve arranged to control the delivery outlet of said hopper, a stem on said first valve, a hollow stem on said second valve surrounding said first stem, a rack on each said valve stem, a pinion eo-operating with each for the vapors of distillation in the upper l portion thereof, of charging means arranged to admit material to be distilled to said retort and to provide a closure to the atmosphere during charging, a cylindrical casing comprising concentric jacketsspaces rounding said retort, the inner of which jacket-spaces communicates at the bottom with the retort below said perforated bottom and at the top with a surrounding jacket-space which is provided with an inlet near the bottom to admit heating 'liuid thereto, a hopperdike chamber below said retort and communicating with an outlet of the retort below said perforated bottom, a conical valve associated with said conical perforated surbottom and movable therewith for controlling said outlet, a second conical valve arranged to control the delivery outlet of said hopper, and means for moving said valves independently of each other substantially as set forth.

9. In distillation apparatus of the type described, the combination with a cylindrical retort tube having a perforated axially movable conical bottom and having an outlet for the vapors of distillation in the upper portion thereof, of means to admit inatcrial to be distilled to said retort, a cylindrieal casing surrounding said retort and having an inlet near the bottom to admit hot gases thereto, a tube within said casingV arranged to provide two concentric achet- Spaces surrounding said retort which communicate with each other at the top and the inner one of which communicates with the retort below said perforated bottom, and means for moving said perforated bottom to permit discharge of material from said retort, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof. we have signed our names to this specification.

FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH.

NEVILLE CHARLES THOMASON HARPER. 

